Vacuum attachment for an electric hair clipper



y 968 c H.JORDING ET AL 3,384,919

VACUUM ATTACHMENT FOR AN ELECTRIC HAIR CLIPPER Filed March 7, 1966INVENTORS g i Clzffbrd 11. Jordzng j John F W0 l 25 M United StatesPatent 3,384,919 VACUUM ATTACHMENT FOR AN ELECTRIC HAIR CLIPPER CliffordH. lording and John F. Wahl, Sterling, llll., as-

signors to Wahl Clipper Corporation, Sterling, Ill., a

corporation of lllinois Filed Mar. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 532,374 3 Claims.(Cl. 15-339) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A vacuum attachment for anexisting electric hair clipper which carries hair clippings away fromthe cutting blades of the clipper. The attachment is a suitably shapedpart having a top wall and opposed side walls which cooperate with theupper portion of the clipper to form a duct, one end of the ductterminating adjacent the clipper blades and the other end of the ductconnected to a low pressure generator. The free edge portions of theopposed side walls of the attachment are angled outwardly and tapered incross section to terminate in yieldable thin edges which engage theupper portion of the clipper in sealing manner. The attachment hasforward yieldable tabs which exert inward pressure on the clipper and insome cases bosses adapted to enter recesses in the upper portion of theclipper, both to aid in positioning the attachment longitudinally on theclipper. Atmospheric pressure is the sole agency holding the attachmentto the clipper during clipper operation.

This invention relates to a vacuum attachment for an electric hairclipper, the attachment effective to prevent clippings fromcontaminating either the barber or his patron.

One object of the invention is to provide a vacuum attachment whereinthe existing upper portion of an associated hair clipper constitutes onewall of an air duct which carries hair clippings away from the cuttingblades of the clipper.

Another object is to provide a vacuum attachment which readily andquickly can be applied to and removed from an associated hair Clipper,atmospheric air pressure being effective to maintain the attachment inplace on the clipper during clipper operation.

A further object is to provide a vacuum attachment for a hair clipperwhich can be made inexpensively and will have a long and useful life.

Other objects, advantages and details of the invention will be apparentas the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing wherein a preferred form of the attachment is shown. It is to beunderstood that the description and drawing are illustrative only, andthat the scope of the invention is to be measured by the appendedclaims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum attachment embodying theinvention, the attachment shown mounted on the associated hair clipperillustrative in broken line.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the attachment, the flexible hosethereof omitted.

FIG. 3 is a lonigtudinal sectional view through the attachment, anassociated hair clipper being shown in broken line.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 55 of FIG. 3

Referring to the drawings, the vacuum attachment is designated in theseveral figures.

Attachment 10 comprises an elongated member 12 3,384,919 Patented May28, 1968 formed of suitable material such as molded plastic. Member 12has a top wall 13 and opposed side Walls 14 and 15 which form threewalls of a duct 16 substantially rectangular in cross section in theforward portion. Rear portion 18 of member 12 is tubular in crosssection, a reinforcing ring 20 surrounding the end of this portion.

Member 12 is generally curved in longitudinal direction, conforming inprofile to the upper portion 22 of an associated hair clipper 25 onwhich attachment 10 is adapted to be mounted. Side walls 1 3 and 15engage upper clipper portion 22. As best shown in FIG. 3, upper clipperportion 22 constitutes the fourth wall of duct 16, and, as will be seen,atmospheric air pressure on the attachment exterior is effective to holdthe attachment in place on clipper 25 during use of the clipper andattachment.

The free edge portions 28 and 29 (FIGS. 2 and 4) of opposed side walls14 and 15 preferably are slightly yieldable so as readily to establish asealed relation with upper portion 22 of an associated clipper 25. Inpreferred form, these free edge portions 28 and 29 taper in crosssection and terminate in thin edges, thereby enhancing the sealedrelationship.

As best shown in FIG. 2, side walls 14 and 15 at the forward endsthereof are provided respectively with tabs 32 and 33, which duringassembly function to guide and locate elongate member 10 in place on anassociated clipper 25. In preferred form tabs 32 and 33 are yieldable,exerting inward pressure on clipper 25 to aid in holding elongatedmember 12 in place.

As further shown in FIG. 2, side walls 14 and 15 in the forward endportions flare outwardly as shown in 34 and 35, thereby providing amouth for duct 16 which is coextensive in width with blades 36 ofassociated clipper 25. The forward lateral edges of top wall 13 alsoflare outwardly to join the flared end portions 34 and of the sidewalls.

The forward ends of top wall 13 and side walls 14 and 15 of member 12are spaced slightly from the associated clipper blades 36, as best shownin FIGS. 1 and 3. This spacing adjacent the mouth of duct 16 provides apath adjacent the blades for moving air to enter duct 16, The enteringair, of course, picks up the clippings and carries them away from theblades.

One end of a lightweight flexible hose 40 telescopes the tubular rearportion 18 of member 12, and is secured in suitable manner as bycooperating corrugations on the hose and end portion. The other end ofhose 40 is adapted to be connected to a subatmospheric pressure system(not shown).

The negative pressure system, of course, establishes a sub-atmosphericpressure condition in duct 16, thereby generating an airstream throughthe duct to carry hair clippings away from associated blades 36. Aspreviously mentioned, the sub-atmospheric condition in duct 16 causesthe atmospheric pressure exterior of member 12 to hold the membersecurely in place on an associated clipper during use.

A home vacuum cleaner or the like is well capable of providing thesub-atmospheric pressure required for the attachment.

A resilient band 42 (FIG. 1) surrounding member 12 and an associatedclipper 25 may be used to insure that the attachment remains in place onthe clipper at times when the sub-atmospheric pressure system is not inoperation. It is desirable that the resilient band be oriented as shownin FIG. 1 so as to exert a rearward bias on member 12.

In many clippers with which the attachment may be used the upper clipperportion is a detachable casing lid secured to the clipper body by meansof countersunk screws. In the case of an attachment designed for suchclippers it is desirable to form bosses 44 and 45 (FIG. 2) On the innersurfaces of the opposed side walls 14 and 15. The free ends of thesebosses are adapted to enter the countersunk screw holes in the clipperlid, thereby serving further to position member 12 on the associatedclipper.

From the above description it is thought that the construction andadvantages of this invention will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art. Various changes in detail may be made without departing fromthe spirit or losing the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A vacuum attachment for an electric hair clipper comprising:

an elongated member having a top wall and opposed side walls formingthree walls of a duct substantially rectangular in cross section in theforward portion thereof, the rear portion of said member tubular incross section, said member generally curved in longitudinal directionconforming in shape to the shape of the upper portion of an associatedhair clipper on which the attachment is adapted to be mounted, the freeedge portions of said opposed side walls being angled outwardly andtapered in cross section to terminate in yieldable thin edges, saidupper clipper portion constituting the fourth wall of said rectangularduct and being engaged in sealing manner by the yieldable thin edges ofsaid opposed side walls, the forward ends of said top and side wallsspaced slightly from the clipper blades; and

a flexible hose connected to said tubular rear portion of said elongatedmember, said hose adapted to be connected to a sub-atmospheric pressuresystem whereby atmospheric pressure is effective to maintain said memberin place on an associated clipper and establish an air stream throughsaid duct to carry hair clippings away from the blades of the clipper.

2. The attachment of claim 1 with the addition of a yieldable tab at theforward end of each said side wall, said tabs exerting inward pressureon an associated clipper and serving to position the elongated member onthe clipper.

3. The attachment of claim 1 with the addition of a boss on the innersurface of each opposed side wall, each boss adapted to enter a recessin the upper portion of an associated clipper as an aid in positioningthe member on the clipper.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,348,308 10/1967 Andis 30-1332,697,876 12/1954 Blanchard 30133 2,748,472 6/1956 Sheley et a1 30-1333,262,199 7/1966 Magarian 30-133 3,279,023 10/1966 Zobel 30133 XRFOREIGN PATENTS 549,704 4/ 1932 Germany.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner.

